Roadtrip with Z to Pensacola

I've been traveling a bit.  Z and I went exploring...to Pensacola.  We hadn't been there since before Hurricane Ivan.  The beach road is open now from Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach, so off we went.  We stopped at a little beach, where the only ones there were BP workers quitting for the day.  The beach was just gorgeous, even picked up some shells-

I think BP's motto should be, "Have port-a-potty, will clean your beach"

Once we got to Pensacola Beach, hunger had set in.  We found one of our favorite restaurants, Sam's Seafood, still open and serving up some yummy fried shrimp.  We went to Pensacola Bay Brewery so Z could try their beers.  I found some neat little shops and did a little Christmas shopping. 

Next stop, Ft. Pickens, to watch the sunset.  If you go, you get a pass for a week, for $8.00, pretty good deal.  One of the campsites we stayed in was still there, and the boardwalk has been redone.

We watched the sunset and then drove by the fort, before darkness made it impossible to see anything.

Jimmy Buffett opened up a Margaritaville Hotel on Pensacola Beach, so of course, we needed to check it out. 

And next door is Landshark Landing, an open air bar right on the beach.  Our dark ride back took us to Navarre Beach to check out the "Helen Back" bar there, very different from the one on Okaloosa Island...not quite so funky.  And our day ended back in Destin, at McGuire's- best steak ever.

Fun road trip...                

                                                                       

must go back soon!

Landlord's Day Out

Today I was volunteering with the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge.  We went to the Back to Nature Festival at Grayton Beach State Park.  We brought several of our Animal Ambassadors to share their rescue stories and explain how the refuge rehabilitates and ultimately releases wildlife that will be able to survive independently in the wild.  This is Landlord, an adult male gopher tortoise.  He was brought to the refuge with a previous injury to his shell.  Landlord was living by a very busy road, which could have caused more injuries.  He cannot be relocated due to FWC protocols which regulate the relocation of this species and is nonreleaseable.

Landlord had a great day, demonstrating what a gopher tortoise does best..digs burrows!  He walked around at the park, until he found just the right spot, and then started digging a burrow.  He dug for several hours, using his large, flat forelimbs to dig, dig, dig!

At the end of our visit, I caught this picture of Landlord proudly looking out from his new (but temporary) little burrow-

Since my last post...

In the past week, I have learned how to do more park ranger stuff.  I have cleaned bathrooms & campsites, painted, trimmed weeds, used a drill, hammered down nails, checked for loose boards, got rid of cobwebs, organized stuff, took down strings of lights, talked with the Chamber of Commerce, presented interpretive programs, attached new beach flags to poles, dug up a turtle nest,  helped pressure wash sidewalks and walls, and put skirting on a house.  Lynda, I am sure I have left off some other jobs we did.  Yet, despite all the long hours and getting very, very dirty, l laughed alot and had loads of fun.  Sorry I have no pix or videos of all these things...we were a tad busy.

I do have some pix of just how beautiful it is here in October...

 awesome sunsets

sanderling at sunset

sunrise on the gulf

juvenile Herring gull on its way south for the winter

crystal clear turquoise water to relax and enjoy!

Stay tuned for more posts...they are coming!

There's a little bit of fall in the air

HAPPY FALL

FROM

HOLIDAY ON A STICK!

Down at Destin Harbor

We went down to the harbor to the Destin Seafood Festival.  Thought you might like to see some of the sights!

This is Destin harbor, with a much smaller way in & out thanks to T.S. Lee dumping sand on Norriego Point.

We shopped, I looked at the artwork for sale, and Bob, looked at million dollar boats...

Perhaps for his birthday!?

We also checked out the new weigh station for the Destin Fishing Rodeo.  Its cool, with floats and old motors hanging off it.  It is in the same place, right behind A.J.'s. 

While all the seafood looked and smelled good, it was Dave's Dogs that won for our lunch choice. I think the bun is the best part.



This little guy was enjoying the sights and sounds too!